From the time I was young, I loved reading and listening to stories. The library was a place I was known by name, and the librarian always had a recommendation waiting for me. I credit this love to my mother, who was often reading and shared family stories with me.

I began writing in elementary school. The book Harriet the Spy captivated me. I started my journal of observations, which became a constant companion. And, of course, exploring the outside world led me to explore my interior world.

I wasn’t brave enough to entertain studying writing until my sophomore year in college. My first creative writing class terrified me and excited me all at once. Reading my work aloud to be critiqued by my peers was daunting, but with encouragement from a friend, I stuck it out. I noticed my business classes flatlined me, while the writing class invigorated me in a way I didn’t know was possible.

I still remember trudging across campus to what would be my last business course, thinking about my writing. Snippets of dialogue ran through my head. I entertained what-if and why questions. What if the character did this, what if the character said this, why would a character behave this way - what past damage is influencing the character’s poor decisions … and on and on. I’d get lost in these thoughts. I suppose I was trying to understand people better - why they make the choices they do, why they live fearful lives, how they make mistakes and betray themselves - or others.

And while the characters I create are fictitious, my goal is to make them relatable to the reader. Maybe the reader will see similarities in the flaws, obstacles, temptations, and isolation that the protagonist faces. Hopefully, the reader will come away with greater empathy and a better understanding of the struggles others face (or the grace of self-forgiveness for their own shortcomings).

Through essays and poetry, I try to tap into the emotions people rarely speak about but feel nonetheless. And I’ve come to see that quietly bearing these experiences (even when they are good experiences, but especially when they are painful) leads to isolation and superficial relationships. I hope to inspire others to have the courage to examine and share these experiences so others, in turn, will be encouraged to share their meaningful stories with others and forge new and deeper connections.

When I’m not writing for pleasure, I write about personal finance issues at RealSmartica, and I am a financial advisor at Ritholtz Wealth Management, specializing in teacher retirement plans. It turns out there was a place for me in business, after all. My writing skills are helpful in putting complicated investment concepts into plain language.

I live on Long Island with my husband, two sons, and two cats and am often in the kitchen cooking with music playing (great lyrics required, of course). Long walks by the beach always get my imagination going. The love of my family, siblings, nieces, nephews, and cousins shows me, time and time again, how blessed I am to have such meaningful connections.

Thank you for taking the time to view my writing. May you find a way to channel your creativity as much as I love to tell stories.